The Shaking by Julie Arduini

Posted on July 5, 2024 by juliearduini

Every so often across social media I would use an image like this and ask if anyone had any prayer needs. I noted I would be happy to pray. I probably did this for years, my guess between 2016 and earlier this year.

The response? I had in all those years a handful. The good news was I wasn’t looking for numbers or stats. I offered to pray and some people took me up on it. It was my honor to do so.

So why did I stop asking for prayer requests?

Obedience.

Years ago, probably around 2016, in my own prayer time, I believed God showed me that a shaking was on the way. It would be global. It would affect every facet of life. In that season things done in dark rooms would be exposed. Corruption would be brought to light. Justice would be served. It would be in world leadership. Politics right down to the city level. The education system. Banking and finance. The church.

The church. I don’t mean only the Catholic church and the snickers from the Protestants. I mean the Body of Christ where there is no denomination but the Blood of Jesus and the Cross at the center. For years I have prayed and read from other prayer warriors that the message was the same. A shaking was coming to reset the Body of Christ.

As I pressed in, I felt my role was to prepare. I believed I was to ask for prayer. If anyone wanted to hit reset and return to their relationship with God, awesome. Maybe some people had no idea what knowing God was about and wanted to learn more. Yay! Perhaps some knew they were doing all the right things on the outside, but their inside was full of choices that missed the mark—AKA sin—and they were tired of hiding it.

That window was for anyone willing for to Jesus knock and know they could answer the door.

A few months ago I knew my time to ask was over. It by no means stood for the time to pray stopped or that repentance or going to God stopped. It meant people could hit the easy button, and that button is done. Now the shaking, whatever form that takes, is here. It’s not a cruel joke but it is a harsh truth.

—Julie Arduini

We are a world spiraling out of control. And like Noah’s Ark, God has to reset us for our own good. It’s a time when life is going to squeeze and we can fall on our knees and confess or the squeeze I believe falls harder.

I’m seeing it already. You are too.

World leaders stepping down, no notice. CEO’s retiring out of nowhere. And the pastors. That is absolutely what I saw in prayer years ago about the shaking. I just didn’t know who, how many, or details.

If you aren’t in the know, Megachurch pastors Dr. Tony Evans and Robert Morris have stepped away/resigned and have admitted to in Evans’s case, sin from the past. With Pastor Morris, it has been made public that years ago he stepped away from ministry because he confessed to an inappropriate relationship with a young woman. He went through a restoration process, the victim agreed to the process and his ability to return to the pulpit. From there, he became a beloved pastor with an international ministry.

The truth? It was no young woman. It was a child. A minor. That kind of relationship will never be consensual. It is literally a crime.

And the church covered it up.

That’s the things done in dark rooms you’re going to see more and more. I believe it with all my heart. There can be no revival until we face the reality we put God in a box and stuffed Him on a shelf to collect dust. We’ve idolized man and self and the results are catastrophic.

For those who believe Jesus is this surfer hippie who never gets angry, blow the dust off your Bible. He gets angry. His heart beats for children. And He is DONE with the mockery where clergy are treated like rock stars and HIs Father is reviled. Where we switch up the Bible to fit our narrative and tread lightly so we don’t hurt feelings. He. is. DONE.

—Julie Arduini

You’re going to see more of this. I’ve been down a lot of rabbit holes since 2016 and there’s a reason the border wall is such a hot topic. Open borders bring in children. Open borders bring in traffickers.

Why is Diddy’s legal trouble so big? Because like Epstein, he took video of every party. Guests were in altered states and compromised positions. Then those guests were owned/blackmailed. Whatever they were told to do, they did it. There are a lot of names that I believe will rise to surface from those videos. Diddy isn’t even top-level. I believe we’re going to learn the leaders of those operations.

They will be names in business. Names in entertainment. Names in politics. Names in churches.

And if we are not right with God, those revelations will devastate. Because at the core of it will be the realization children were treated like property and absolutely unspeakable things have been done at the hands of these people. It will shake us to the core.

It has to. It has to wake us up.

The amazing thing about God is the shaking is not the end of our story. We can at any time go to Him and confess. We’ve been selfish. Unaware. Greedy. We’ve made idols out of people, sports, and food. But God. We can go to Him and ask His forgiveness and allow Him access to reset us. From there, the journey won’t be easy, but it will be good, because God will be in it. We invited Him to. I believe the greatest revival in history is around the corner.

We just need to be shaken first.

I’m praying. I’m confessing anything He brings up to me, and He is.

But out of obedience, I’m not asking for prayer requests.

I pray this post encourages you. If need be, convicts you. And if you are in a place where you’re making dark choices where you think no one knows, you are seen. Your sins are known. They will be exposed. Out of love. Out of justice. I pray you surrender your life and all that’s in it, good, bad, ugly, to the God who can take the worst sinner and transform them into something moving His Kingdom forward.

Paul in the Bible knows.

Same for Peter.

And me.

This was first shared at juliearduini.com.

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I’m offering Anchored Hearts & Repairing Hearts Free for Kindle through Sunday, July 7th. They are the first two books in Surrendering Hearts.

The Hart sextuplets discover their identity and try to find a love like their parents shared. These are small-town romances featuring Christian surrender issues and chocolate mentions.

If you enjoy them, please consider leaving a review on Amazon/Goodreads/Bookbub.

Have a blessed Independence Day weekend!

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The Dead Sea Scrolls, God’s preserved Word

Posted on July 4, 2024 by dtopliff

As we celebrate Independence Day in the United States, let’s also thank the Lord for the proof of His unchanging word preserved in the Dead Sea Scrolls.

You probably know the story. In 1946, Bedouin boys searched for a lost goat on the northwest side of the Dead Sea. I’ve been there and climbed part way. The terrain is harsh desert mountains with steep cliffs riddled with caves. One boy tossed a rock through an opening to see if his lost kid was inside and heard something shatter. That made him climb up and in. There, in large pottery jars, he found old scrolls he hoped might have some sales value. During dangerous times, the scrolls ended up in Bethlehem. There, Israeli archaeologist Eliezer Sukenik, father to famed archaeologist, Yigal Yadin, recognized their authenticity and raised funds to buy them.

The Dead Sea Scrolls are considered property deeds proving that Jewish people lived and worked in Qumran over two thousand years ago and continuously since. They made a supreme effort to hide the scrolls to preserve sacred scriptures from invading Romans.

I’ve seen the originals in the famous Shrine of the Book Museum in Jerusalem where the whole facility is built like the top of a Torah scroll and equipped with a special air-conditioned emergency elevator to protect the scrolls in case of attack. The land surface area would be sealed off and the scrolls lowered to safety.

The accuracy of the scriptures is proven. The original Isaiah scroll contains only two small differences when compared to our Bible text today. It’s been a while since I’ve taught Biblical Archaeology, but I recall the only differences between the ancient and current versions are that one word appears in plural form instead of singular and another contains one extra “s.” How wonderfully faith-building to know we have God’s perfectly preserved and unchanging word.

If you visit Israel in more peaceful times, I hope you’ll see the scrolls. In the meantime, when I study scripture, I thank God daily for sending His Son and providing His unchanging word.

Isaiah 12: 2-4 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. 3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. 4a And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

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Advice for Difficult Circumstances by James R. Coggins

Posted on July 3, 2024 by jrcoggins

James 1:2 states: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds.” The following passage, James 1:2-18, goes on to offer us insight for whenever we encounter “trials.” The Greek word is peirasmos, which is variously translated as “trials,” temptations,” “tests,” “troubles,” difficulties,” “challenges,” “tribulations,” and “hardships.” Two concepts come together here. When we encounter hardships and troubles, we are tempted to respond with anger, with doubt, or in other negative and sinful ways. The suffering brings with it temptation, and that tests our faith and our faithfulness. It shows what we really are and what we really believe under pressure.

James offers several insights into how we should respond when we encounter troubles.

First, in verses 2-4, James says that we should welcome suffering with joy because suffering purifies us and strengthens our faith. It leads us to exercise our faith.

Second, in verses 5-8, James advises us to ask God for “wisdom”—to understand what we are encountering and to know how we should respond. God can see the bigger picture.

Third, in verses 9-11, James says that suffering reminds us of the transitoriness of earthly things and the enduring value of eternal things. Earthly sufferings and earthly blessings are transitory and not all that important compared to eternity. Our sufferings won’t last, but neither will earthly wealth.

Fourth, in verse 12, James reminds us that God has promised an eternal life of blessing to those who are faithful to Him.

Fifth, in verses 13-15, James says that God does not tempt us and that God did not create evil and suffering. We human beings brought evil and suffering into the world through our sin, and human beings continue to add more evil and suffering. If we sin, it is because we chose to sin. We cannot blame God when we do something wrong.

Sixth, in verses 16-18, James reminds us that God gives good gifts. Whatever good there is in the world comes as a gift from God. Further, God is unchanging and dependable. God has given us a new birth and truth, and those gifts will remain forever.

All of these insights should encourage us whenever we encounter trials and suffering.

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Happy NHL Free Agency Day!

Posted on July 1, 2024 by jrcoggins

A holiday celebrated in Canada but not in the US. It is a day when men of many nations are offered millions of dollars to come to our great land and chase a frozen piece of rubber across sheets of ice.

Four days later, Americans celebrate Independence Day, when some hockey players celebrate that they have become independently wealthy and those players without contracts bemoan their independence. Americans celebrate the day, as they do every other day, by firing off explosive devices.

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Helping Those in Need by Nancy J. Farrier

Posted on July 1, 2024 by Nancy J. Farrier
Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on Unsplash

I recently had the chance to share this story. When getting ready to do this post, I thought I would share it once again here because the message is something I needed to remember.

I breathed deep, taking in the fresh desert scent as my feet crunched along the hard-packed dirt track. The rain three days ago washed everything, and the fall air brushed against me with a welcome crispness after the summer heat. The beauty and vastness of the desert never failed to calm me and make me thankful.

Something moved in the dirt ahead. Just a hint of movement. I slowed, watching for what caught my eye. And stopped. 

A tiny lizard peered up at me from the sand, his head tilted at an angle, his body so still only the blink of his eye let me know he was alive. I waited for him to scurry away. Lizards never stayed still long when I passed by. This one didn’t move.

I took a step closer. Another step. I could almost feel the tension in his small body, but he didn’t move. I took another step and knelt down. He was little, only about three inches from the tip of his nose to the end of his tail. He scrabbled his front feet like he wanted to run but something held him in place.

Bending down, I noted one of his back legs buried in the sand. The hard-packed sand. The poor thing must be terrified, but he couldn’t go anywhere.  He stayed frozen in place as I gently nudged his leg to see if it would come free of the dirt. It didn’t. I couldn’t pull or the fragile appendage would break.

I began to dig through the sand a couple of inches from the lizard’s leg. His wide-eyed gaze stayed glued to me. For the next several minutes I loosened the dirt, getting closer to the trapped leg. I realized by now that at least half of his leg had sunk into the roadway, probably after the heavy rain. He’d gotten stuck and the sand hardened around him. Who knows how long he’d been stuck here. I was amazed he hadn’t been killed.

The sand crumbled bit-by-bit and finally his leg slid free and seemed intact and unbroken.  I expected him to scurry away, but he didn’t. He moved his leg. Stared up at me. Waited. 

As gently as possible I ran the tip of my finger down his head. He tilted the slightest bit toward men his nose bumping my finger, as if saying, “Thank you,” and moved in fits and starts to the brush at the side of the trail. I went on my way thankful for the chance to help him.

I realized, after the fact, that maybe I should have taken a picture, or done a video of him as I freed him, but my main concern had been to help this little creature who would otherwise die. I wasn’t digging in the dirt for my benefit but for his.

Over the next weeks I thought a lot about Matthew 25, where Jesus talked about “the least of these” and how when we help even the person who matters little it is the same as helping Jesus Himself. I realize a lizard is not the “least” He was referring to, but that moment started me thinking. Who is the least that I’m supposed to help? Who is God asking me to help that I’m walking past without noticing? Who is trapped and unable to get free on their own?

Is it the person in the parking lot struggling to load something heavy in a car by themselves? Is it the person in the pew near me sitting alone? Is it the homeless person I pass on the sidewalk? Is it the child who annoys me with their behavior that demands attention? Is it the pregnant woman with no one to help her? Is it the former serviceman who struggles to find their place in life? Is it the adolescent being forced to consider a life in trafficking? Is it the offensive person who covers up their need for a friend with brashness?

Helping someone can be as simple giving an encouraging word, or that assistance can be more complicated. Giving a smile or a word of encouragement is easy enough, but God may be asking me to consider doing more. Maybe the “least” this time is something more long term and emotionally draining. Yet, when I consider that I’m doing it for Jesus, the cost is not worth considering. 

If I will kneel down and dig in the dirt for a lizard, I will kneel down and dig in the dirt for the person Jesus asks me to help. Who is “the least of these” to me.

Who is “the least of these” to you?

Will you join me and kneel down to help? 

…Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.(Matt. 25:40 NKJV)

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Multiple-Choice Quiz by James R. Coggins

Posted on June 26, 2024 by jrcoggins

1. Just recently, we had two major appliances (a microwave and a dishwasher) break down within one week. It was a significant blow to our finances. The question: How could this have happened?

a. coincidence

b. bad luck

c. power surge

d. God is punishing me for something.

e. The universe is out to get me.

f. My parents originally planned to name me Job.

g. Murphy’s Law kicked in.

h. We are hard on our appliances and break them.

i. The appliances were bought at the same time, and, like the wonderful one-horse shay, they all wore out at the same time.

j. Chinese agents installed a kill switch in the microchips.

k. Fate, destiny, and the force converged.

l. Venus, Mars, and Jupiter collided.

m. It is another example of shoddy workmanship in the manufacture of modern appliances.

n. a and b

o. a, b, and c

p. c and d

q. x, y, and z

r. all of the above

s. none of the above

t. not q

u. other_________

2. The microwave was on sale for $288. We actually paid:

a. $288
b. $315

c. $327.88

d. $400

e. $700

f. $900

g. $2,000,000

h. I don’t care.

3. The correct answer to question 2 is f. $900. This was a result of:

a. fraud

b. greed

c. bait and switch

d. consumer complacency

e. consumer gullibility

f. consumer ignorance

g. consumer stupidity

h. delivery, installation, removal of the old microwave, environmental levy, extended warranty, provincial tax, federal tax

i. an international conspiracy

j. poor math skills

k. computer

4. Multiple-choice exams were invented:

a. as a medieval torture device

b. to demonstrate the superiority of the Arabic numeral system

c. by lazy teachers

d. for lazy students

e. computer

5. The correct answers are:

1. x, 2. f, 3. j, 4. e, 5. none of the above

6. If you got all 10 questions correct, you will receive:

a. a calculator

b. an abacus

c. praise

d. astonishment

e. a participation ribbon

f. computer

To claim your prize, call I-CAN-NOT COUNT. If you have complaints or questions about the process, see 2. h

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What to Do When We’re Not Okay by Julie Arduini

Posted on June 21, 2024 by juliearduini

I think one of the most surprising things to come from 2020 is that we’re in 2024 and we are overall not okay.

Politics aside, we thought we were staying inside for a couple of weeks, tops. We were told to do this, but then that. That changed, and then so did this. Add over here, but also that.

As we were able to emerge from our homes many lost loved ones. Their jobs changed. School felt different.

It’s been brutal. I have always been an introvert, but I’ve had to really press in when I know I’m going to be around big crowds of people. I have zero fear of illness, it’s just the mass of people when I was without a crowd for so long. I’ve come across extroverts who are the same. There is life PC—pre Covid, and life AC, after. And I’m at a place where I want to do something about it.

One step I took was reading Untangle Your Emotions by Jennie Allen. I learned after my mom’s death in 2021 that I had stuffed my feelings for decades. It’s my go-to. I stuffed it literally with food, but I also ignored my feelings and soldiered on. The saying “pain has to go somewhere” reigned true. Stuffing got me nothing but a gastrointestinal storm. It’s not how anyone should live.

Jennie’s book mentioned an app that I wanted to check out. How We Feel is a free app that allows you to check in and find your feelings. Each feeling is a puzzle piece shape with a definition and you can share what you’re doing at the time of check in, who you are with, and where you are. There’s also a place where like social media, you can add friends and share your update, as little or as much as you want, with friends.

I’m a fan of this app. It’s easy to use, doesn’t take long, and it has really opened my eyes to my feelings. They have videos every so often that are well done and informative. There are stats that give all kinds of breakdowns, no pun intended. If you love charts, the more you check-in, the more you learn.

By adding friends, if I check in that I’m in a highly unpleasant place, it alerts my friends, and they can check in on me. I love that.

It’s time to shake off the isolation and all the ick 2020 came with. It’s time to rise up and stand strong. If you’d like to download How We Feel, you can add me through friend code 010285. Please understand I’m not a counselor nor does this give you personal access to my life. There are many helps included in the app that can give you resources. The friend option to me allows my friends to see how I’m doing and lift up a prayer, and I can do the same.

I’m finally feeling alive again, and in some ways better than ever because I’m slowing down to feel, noting it, and sharing. I hope you’re feeling the same.

Originally posted juliearduini.com

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What’s Your Hearts Desire?

Posted on June 20, 2024 by Patricia Bradley

Have you ever put your heart’s desires on God’s altar? Given them to Him in order to pick them up His way? Like Moses…

The LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand and grasp it (the staff that had become a snake) by its tail.”—so he stretched out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand. Exodus 4:4

Now, I’m not sure I could’ve picked up that snake, but Moses did, and look at what God did—He freed the children of Israel and led Moses and the Israelites to the Promised Land. God didn’t put something new in Moses’ hand—He created something better out of what Moses already had. But it was no longer an ordinary staff. This staff brought plagues down on Pharaoh and parted the Red Sea. It was the staff that struck the rock at Horeb and water gushed out. When Moses held up the staff, the Israelites had victory over Amalek.

God can do the same thing with us if we’re willing to give him our desires.

Several years ago, I decided to take a year off to write my murder mystery. I was cruising along, totally loving this writing time, when I felt God leading me to write an abstinence curriculum. “God, are you sure? I mean…I don’t like to write non-fiction. I want to write about romance and murder and suspense..You know, scary stuff.”

Did I mention I didn’t want to do it? But I had recently put my writing on God’s altar, and if that’s what He wanted…For the next ten years, I worked in the abstinence program, co-writing a curriculum and then teaching it. Lives were absolutely changed. Mine included. He didn’t give me something new. He took what I had and made it powerful.

Then, one day during my prayer time, a fragment for a new scene in the old manuscript I’d been working on years ago popped into my mind. Then another. I knew God had given me permission to go back to writing my suspense and romance. And I did.

Again, not something new, He just made the old better. And now I have seventeen completed Inspirational novels, and I’m working on book eighteen.

I want to leave you with Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart. When you delight yourself in Him, His desires become your desires.

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A Worldly Pursuit of God? By James R. Coggins

Posted on June 19, 2024 by jrcoggins

If the duty of human beings is to know God, we know we must spend much time in prayer, contemplation, and Bible study. In order to devote their full time to this pursuit, some have become monks. On the other hand, some of us feel deeply troubled that we spend only a few minutes a day trying to know God. We regret that we cannot spend more time doing this, but we secretly fear that a life devoted entirely to prayer and study would be boring.

There is another way—going out into the world that God has created, associating with other people, and working as He intended us to (Genesis 2:15). This will lead us into challenges, suffering, and pain. These things must not be seen as a hindrance to our quest for God (although they can be) but as a help. They may indeed show us our weakness and need and drive us to spend more time seeking God through prayer and Bible study. This is the mystery of the incarnation. God has entered our world through Jesus Christ. He is the God of history, the One who teaches us through our experiences as well as our prayer times. James taught that trials lead to perseverance and wisdom (James 1:2-3) and that blessings teach us about the goodness of God (James 1:17). Jesus did not chide His followers for being shepherds or fishermen. He used these experiences to develop parables which taught them about God. Why would God place us in a world where work has to be done if He wanted us only to pray? The two areas of devotion must work together. If, when we spend some time in prayer and contemplation, we cannot see God’s hand in our past experiences, then indeed we are limiting our quest for God to just a few minutes a day.

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God’s Creation by Tara Randel

Posted on June 17, 2024 by tararandel

I’ll be the first to admit that when I get in the writing zone, I don’t pay much attention to the world around me. But in the last few months, I’ve had some extra time to be outdoors. When my husband and I hike in the woods or I am around beautiful blooming flowers, the natural beauty that God has created always touches me deep in my spirit.

There are so many magnificent places that God has created, so many scenic views that we can take for granted.

My husband is getting ready for a big mountain hike this summer. As we’ve been out walking, here are a few of my favorite views.

Here are lovely pictures from right outside my doors.

A selection of flowers or wildlife I find in random places.

No matter where I go, no matter what part of the country or the world I travel, I can’t help but be amazed at what God has done. Since we’re starting the summer travel season, more, now than ever, we have a chance to really appreciate the world around us. God is amazing and the proof is where we live and walk every day.

On a different note, I’m happy to announce that I just signed a four-book deal with Harlequin in the Heartwarming line. I’m so excited to continue with new stories and characters I’ve created in my fictitious mountain town of Golden, Georgia.

I’ve been blessed that God has given me the talent and passion to write books that I hope bring laughter, hope, and joy to readers. Book 1 is finished so on the Book 2 this week!

Tara Randel is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author. Family values, a bit of mystery and of course, love and romance, are her favorite themes, because she believes love is the greatest gift of all. For more information about her books, visit Tara at www.tararandel.com. Like her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TaraRandelBooks. Sign up for Tara’s Newsletter.

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What Would You Do? by James R. Coggins

Posted on June 12, 2024 by jrcoggins

What would you do if you knew that the world would end tomorrow?

Someone wiser and more famous than I am once responded, “I would plant a tree.”

My wife and I bought a kitten.

I am not saying that the world will end tomorrow. (I can’t say for sure. I am not a prophet.) But my wife and I are well into semi-retirement, and the world might well end for us before it does for the kitten.

Don’t worry. I know that the people reading this are now more concerned about the fate of the kitten than you are about the fate of my wife and me. If “something happens to us,” the children have agreed to take over care of the kitten. It is a condition of receiving their inheritance, as small as that is.

The decision to adopt a kitten was a deliberate one. While some seniors have chosen to retreat into quiet and solitude, my wife and I for the most part have chosen to be surrounded by life. We chose to live in a multi-generational townhouse complex. We attend a multi-generational church.

And having a kitten entices the children and grandchildren to visit more. And more.

Pippin is a two-month-old, one-pound ball of fluff—technically a lynx point Siamese kitten. She is tiny, fitting nicely into one hand. We treat her like a baby. We are pleased to report that she is eating well and using the cat box. She has developed a pattern of playing hard for two hours and then then sleeping for two hours. That works well during the day. Not so much at night. It is like having a baby. (I already said that.) We have learned to adjust to a revised sleeping schedule. And I am learning to shuffle my feet like an old man, so as not to step on her. She is fast and silent, creeping up on me like old age.

The kitten gives my wife something to do while I am holed up in my office writing. Each month, I write a variety of blog posts, articles, meditations, and stories, and I offer links to what I have written on social media. Some of the things I write present penetrating insights into the human condition. Some deal with profound theological truths. Some (I hope) have artistic merit. But I have found that the social media links I post about the important things I write receive far less attention and far fewer responses than when I post a photo of a cute kitten.

As a writer, as time goes on, you learn what sells.

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The Joy of Discovery by Nancy J. Farrier

Posted on June 10, 2024 by Nancy J. Farrier

Last week we went to our youngest grandson’s first birthday. The party was held at a park and the kids loved that. There was shade and the weather was perfect. The kids could run and play and they had a great time with new friends.

Our grandson isn’t walking yet, but he enjoyed being set down on the ground. He ran his hands over the blades of grass feeling them tickle his palms. He picked up dirt and sifted it through his fingers. And he loved the inflatable balls his mom had for the kids to play with. His excitement over his gifts made me smile the whole time, especially when he loved his new dinosaur.

Seeing the world through a child’s eyes is fascinating. They are captivated by the simplest of things. Everything in their small world is something new to explore and marvel at. 

In Matthew 18:3,4, Jesus tells his disciples, “…Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

I wonder if Jesus admonishment is partly because as adults we’ve lost that sense of wonder in our surroundings or in the small gifts God gives us. We may notice a spectacular sunset, but do we notice the sky when it isn’t unusually pretty? Do we marvel at a line of ants and the way they work in tandem? Do we see everything around in light of being new and something created by God?

Maybe we need to ask God to open our eyes and show us everything anew and then take the time to ponder and glory in His creation. Even just for a few minutes each day can change our attitude and outlook on life.

What about learning as a child? Do we get so focused on life and job and family that we forget to be aware of what God is trying to teach us? 

Deuteronomy 6:6,7 says, “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”

I wonder if God instructed the Israelites to teach their young children like this because a child’s mind is so open to learning. They are eager for new concepts and able to retain much more than someone who is older. (Such as this great-grandmother. 🙂 )

It would be beneficial for us, as adults, to set aside some of the responsibilities of life and take time each day to look at what God has done for us. At what He’s given us. 

We need to open our hearts to joy and bask in Him. We should be excited every day to see what God is bringing to us even if it’s something as small as a blade of grass or a handful of dirt. Be joyful in the discovery of every day.

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How Did I Get Here & When Can I Leave by Julie Arduini

Posted on June 7, 2024 by juliearduini

It wasn’t too long ago I was in the middle of our local township park surrounded by spring flowers, beautiful trees, and small wildlife. Instead of inhaling the fresh air, I wiped a tear off my cheek and headed home.

I used to love nature walks. They brought me peace and were often the place and time God spoke to me. Gave me direction. Encouragement. Conviction.

That recent walk was the latest in a series of misfires where I brought our reactive (barking/high energy) rescue mixed beagle, Milo, and my anxiety escalated with each step.

Here’s what my mind would have on a loop:

Would we have the field to walk in? That was the best option because no one else walked in, giving Milo space to walk without interruption. However, we’ve had a lot of rain so I was usually re-directed to a trail.

Is anyone else on this trail? I tried different times to avoid others. Once Milo barks, he will not stop. I’ve tried it all. It is a physical feat to calm him down, draining me. He’s on the chubby side. I take him because he needs the exercise and most walks, he does well. I feel like a failure when we encounter other people and dogs.

Milo also provides help for me, as I have also found with any walking I do apart from home or church, I am watching my every step for fear of falling. Milo’s leash and his energy give me a grip to hold when he takes on a hill.

Mentally, when I’m fighting the fear I’m going to stumble on a rock (happened), my knee will dislocate (happens easily with me), and I need to leave to assure it won’t happen (that was my last walk), I have to stay for his sake. That last time, I didn’t make the full trail. We’d come across another reactive dog and Milo would not stop barking. I had different shoes on and I tensed with every step.

I used to power walk everywhere.

How did I get to the place of being afraid to take even a step?

Better yet, when can I leave this place of heightened anxiety?

I actually know when it started. It was 2021 and the grief from 2020 and losing my mom left me physically ill because I stuffed all the emotions, something I’m learning I’d been doing most of my life. I went on vacation with my husband and daughter, as well as my sister and nephew. I was convinced I had to make sure they had the best time, and, at our very first pit stop, my ankle slid a little on a slippery WalMart floor. It was all it took for my mind to sound alarms and go on high alert for a knee dislocation.

More than that, all the grief and high expectations layered that panic, and I held up the entire vacation. I could not walk. Everything tensed up. Toes, Ankles. Calves. Thighs. Knees. Back. Arms. It was not a vacation for anyone. I was so obsessed with making sure they would have a great time I created a memory none of us want.

I went to therapy to learn coping skills, and I’m grateful for that. However, the fear came creeping back last year. Milo was a young dog, new to us, and untrained. Additionally I wear progressive glasses that must be perfectly aligned or my vision is all off. It’s only recently I put the two together and realized little by little I let that fear take ownership once again.

So how am I dealing with it?

Sadly, I haven’t been to the park. I’ve instead done stair work and play with him at home while I work on my own exercise program. I’ve added balance to my routine to help me when I’m walking.

I bought better shoes. They are basically hiking shoes so the tread is good. They also protect my ankle. I wear them when I’m in a new terrain. When I feel protected, my confidence grows.

Speaking of protection…I make sure I pray the Armor of God from Ephesians 6. Where am I without the shoes of peace? When I walk on a pebble lot, I whisper one word per step from a verse I find encouraging. My go-to?

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13, NKJV

I believe sharing with my eye doctor will help as well. But overall, I must hand over every feeling, every scenario to God who knows me best. That’s how I get out. I take every thought to Him. I want off this anxious hamster wheel. I want to enjoy His creation.

And I believe soon I will again.

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The Priestly Benediction Prayer

Posted on June 6, 2024 by dtopliff

The Priestly Benediction Amulet is another key proof of Israel’s long ownership of the land. Five hundred years older than the Dead Sea Scrolls, it was found in 1979 in the Valley of Hinnom between Old City Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives by a team led by Israeli archaeologist, Gariel Barkay. They had tossed the small item aside thinking it of no consequence when a young boy standing by asked, “Mister, are you sure this isn’t something?”

It resembled the wadded up aluminum foil wrapper holding a piece of gum. Barkay realized the rolled up piece was pure silver. It took special treatment and great care to unroll it, and divine wisdom to decipher the words written in ancient Hebrew, all consonants with no vowels.

One phrase clearly repeated three times. An aged rabbi recognized the sequence as Numbers 6:24-26, the earliest Bible passage found in ancient artifacts—

24 The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: 25 The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 26 The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

The original is in The Israel Museum, next to the Shrine of the Book holding the Dead Sea Scrolls. It’s possible to buy museum-approved replicas. The photo above shows mine.

In other news, here’s a first. My Minnesota dentist always buys my books. Yesterday, he bought his copy of A Traveling Grandma’s Guide to Israel and showed it to his new partner who is Jewish. That dentist took time to look through it while I was still there. He came and found me and thanked me for writing a book so positive about Israel and its people, though I clearly emphasize the Christian aspects built on Jewish foundations. We had a great conversation. I’ll look for him each time I go. I’m very happy that he was so pleased. May that happen often! If you’ve read it, feel free to show it to Jewish friends. And thanks for posting those important Customer Reviews on Amazon.com.

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James the Jewish Christian by James R. Coggins

Posted on June 5, 2024 by jrcoggins

When the apostle Paul was converted, likely only a couple of years after Jesus’ resurrection, he stayed in Damascus for a while. In Galatians 1:18-19, Paul related what happened next: “Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas [that is, Peter] and stayed with him fifteen days. I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother” (NIV). Already, within perhaps five years of Jesus’ resurrection, James was a leader in the Jerusalem church.

Acts 12 tells the story of Peter being imprisoned and being miraculously released by God’s angels. Peter then left Jerusalem to hide out elsewhere, but, before he left, he gave this message to a group of believers who had been praying for him: “Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this” (Acts 12:17). This “James” was most likely Jesus’ brother since James, the son of Zebedee, had already been martyred (Acts 12:2). With Peter’s departure, James seems to have assumed Peter’s role as the primary leader in the Jerusalem church.

A few years later, some Jewish Christians from Jerusalem were telling the new gentile Christians in Antioch that they needed to be circumcised. This resulted in church leaders from both places assembling in Jerusalem (Acts 15:1-30). Peter, based on his own experience with gentile Christians, spoke in favor of not forcing gentiles to be circumcised. Paul and Barnabas reported on what had been happening in Antioch. And then James issued his “judgement” (krino in Greek) that the gentiles should be required to only follow a few Jewish laws and not be circumcised. James’s recommendation was accepted by the other leaders and formed the basis for a formal latter that was sent to the gentile churches. This all suggests that James was the primary leader of the Jerusalem church.

This does not mean that James could not be challenged. James was the perceived leader of the church in Jerusalem and of the “Jewish faction” in the Christian church elsewhere. Galatians 2 describes another visit of Paul to Jerusalem, probably about 52 AD, between Paul’s second and third missionary journeys: “Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also.…Meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles.” Paul wanted these leaders to examine what he was preaching to make sure he was on the right track. However, “not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.” Paul explained that this issue “arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks” demanding that gentile Christians obey all of the Old Testament rules. Paul strongly opposed these requirements. In response, “those who were held in high esteem…recognized that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised” and “James, Cephas and John, those esteemed as pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship.” (In an aside, Paul said that these esteemed leaders had no authority of their own, but that they, Paul, and other Christians were all equal before God.) In this same passage, Paul described another incident: “When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.” Paul rebuked these Jewish Christians and church leaders, pointing out that “they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel” and that “a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.”

These issues were apparently sorted out. Acts 21 describes Paul’s final visit to Jerusalem, about 59 AD: “The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James, and all the elders were present. When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters received us warmly. The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James, and all the elders were present. Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. When they heard this, they praised God.” However, James and the other leaders told Paul about a problem: “Many thousands of Jews have believed [in Jesus], and all of them are zealous for the law. They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs.” The Jewish Christians, following James’s advice, had accepted that gentile Christians did not need to follow the Old Testament law, but they were convinced that Jewish Christians should still obey it. Therefore, they suggested that Paul should participate in some temple rituals to show that he still followed the law. Paul did this, but some Jews (not Christian Jews) misunderstood what Paul was doing and thought he had brought gentiles into the Jewish part of the temple. Paul was arrested and eventually sent as a prisoner to Rome.

What are we to make of all of this? This does not mean that James was wrong. Well, he was clearly wrong in giving some support to the idea that gentile Christians needed to be circumcised. But all of the Christian leaders were still sorting through how Christians should relate to the Old Testament, and James was not alone in making some mistakes on this issue. This does not mean that James was not a Christian. He clearly was. But his mindset was clearly influenced by Jewish tradition, and he emphasized different aspects of Christian theology than Paul and some other early Christian leaders. When we come to James’s letter, which was addressed to “the twelve tribes scattered among the nations” (James 1:1), we should recognize that it seems to be addressed primarily to Jewish Christians, and that will have some bearing on how we understand his message.

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